9. All the people will know it –Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria –who say with prideand arrogance of heart,
10. ‘The bricks have fallen down,but we will rebuild with dressed stone;the fig trees have been felled,but we will replace them with cedars.’
11. But the Lord has strengthened Rezin’s foes against themand has spurred their enemies on.
12. Arameans from the east and Philistines from the westhave devoured Israel with open mouth.Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,his hand is still upraised.
13. But the people have not returned to him who struck them,nor have they sought the Lord Almighty.
14. So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail,both palm branch and reed in a single day;
15. the elders and dignitaries are the head,the prophets who teach lies are the tail.
16. Those who guide this people mislead them,and those who are guided are led astray.
17. Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,nor will he pity the fatherless and widows,for everyone is ungodly and wicked,every mouth speaks folly.Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,his hand is still upraised.
18. Surely wickedness burns like a fire;it consumes briers and thorns,it sets the forest thickets ablaze,so that it rolls upwards in a column of smoke.